15-Day Lhasa to Mount Kailash Tour with Everest Base Camp

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Day 01

Arrival in Lhasa and Acclimatization

• Welcome to Lhasa! Upon your arrival at Gonggar Airport or Lhasa Railway Station, your professional Tibetan guide will meet you in the hall on time with a name sign.
• Then, a comfortable private car and experienced driver will take you safely to your hotel in Lhasa. It is about 65 km from the airport to Lhasa city and takes less than an hour via the Airport Expressway. It is only 25 km from the railway station and takes about half an hour.
• After arriving at the hotel, your tour guide will help you check in. You can then rest and acclimatize to the high altitude.

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Day 02

Drepung and Sera Monasteries in Lhasa

• After breakfast at your hotel, drive to visit Drepung Monastery. Drepung Monastery was once the largest monastery, with more than 10,000 monks, and today it remains one of the three great monasteries in Lhasa. Seen from a distance, its grand white construction gives the appearance of a heap of rice.
• In the afternoon, drive to visit Sera Monastery, which is famous for the unique "Daily Scriptures Debating" activity held from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm in the central courtyard. Then transfer back to the hotel.

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Day 03

Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street

• After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will pick you up and drive you to visit the splendid Potala Palace, one of Lhasa's cardinal landmarks. You will have the whole morning to explore this world-level architectural work, including the White Palace, Red Palace, corridors, stairs, and countless lama dormitories. Other highlights include Buddha statues, red-robed lamas and devotees, murals, and more.
• In the afternoon, you will walk to visit the age-old Jokhang Temple, the spiritual center of Tibet, which will deeply impress you with its magnificence and sincere pilgrims. You will see pilgrims donating butter oil to keep the lights burning for the Buddha, learn about Tibetan Buddhism, hear the red-robed lamas praying, take photos of the golden roof, and enjoy the beautiful sunshine of Lhasa.
• Finally, you will have a relaxing walk around Jokhang Temple at Barkhor Street, the oldest street in Lhasa. It is full of religious atmosphere and showcases Tibetan culture, economy, religion, and arts together. Then transfer back to the hotel.

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Day 04

Lhasa to Gyantse and Shigatse via Lake Yamdrok

• On leaving the Tibetan capital, we will first drive southwest toward the beauty of Lake Yamdrok, taking the winding road up to the crest of the Gampa La Pass at 4,794 meters.
• From the pass, you get the first glimpse of the beauty of Lake Yamdrok below, ringed by snowy mountain peaks and stretching out across the whole landscape before you.
• In the distance, the holy Mount Nyenchen Khangsar stands tall in the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain Range. We will descend to the lakeshore for a closer look before continuing on to Nagartse for a delicious local lunch.
• On the way to Gyantse after lunch, we cross over Karo La Pass (5,159 m), where we can view the beautiful glacier falling from the slopes of Mount Nyenchen Khangsar. In Gyantse, we will stop at Pelkor Chode Monastery to explore both the monastery and the outstanding 32-meter stupa that is the highlight of the day. Known as the Kumbum Stupa, this one-of-a-kind monument has nine floors and 108 chapels containing thousands of images and statues throughout.
• Then we will continue in the late afternoon to reach Shigatse before nightfall.

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Day 05

Shigatse to Everest Base Camp and Rongbuk

• In the morning, we'll visit Tashilunpo Monastery. Qamba Buddha Hall houses the tallest and largest bronze Qamba Buddha statue, where you can appreciate Buddhist art.
• After that, we'll leave Shigatse after obtaining your Alien's Travel Permit, and then drive directly to the base camp of Mount Everest near Rongbuk Monastery. The route takes us over several high passes, and the first outstanding view you will see is from Gyatso La Pass at 5,400 meters.
• From the viewpoint at the crest of the pass, you can see Mount Everest standing tall in the distance.
• At Old Tingri, we will turn off the Friendship Highway and take the Zhufeng Road over Gawu La Pass (5,250 m), from which you get an amazing view of the Himalayan panorama. The peaks in view include several mountains above 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,463 m), Mt. Shishapangma (8,020 m), and Mt. Cho Oyu (8,201 m).
• On our arrival at Rongbuk Monastery, we will first check into the tent guesthouse or Rongbuk Monastery Guesthouse, depending on the time of year. The tent guesthouses are not available in the winter months from November to March and are sometimes full during the peak summer months.
• After a light lunch, we will have time to explore the famous Rongbuk Monastery, officially the highest Buddhist monastery in the world. Housing both monks and nuns, the monastery was a regular stopping point for explorers heading for Mount Everest in the early days after it was first discovered.

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Day 06

Everest Base Camp to Saga via Shishapangma

• In the morning, we can enjoy the sunrise over Everest Peak at the lodging area if weather permits. Then, as we head to Saga, you can view the world's 14th-highest peak, Mt. Shishapangma (8,012 m), and turquoise Lake Peiku Tso (4,590 m).
• If you are lucky enough, you are very likely to see wild animals such as wild donkeys and wild antelope.

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Day 07

Saga to Darchen via Lake Manasarovar

• On the way to Darchen, you will have a chance to appreciate the stunning view of the Saga Valley between the Gangdise Range and the Himalaya Range. Meanwhile, the beautiful grasslands and local villages can also be seen.
• As we cross Mayomla Pass (5,112 m), you can enjoy the spectacular vista of Mt. Naimonanyi (7,694 m).
• Then we are expected to pass by the holy Lake Manasarovar and finally arrive at the southern foot of Mt. Kailash, the holiest mountain in Tibet.

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Day 08

Begin the Kailash Kora to Drirapuk

• In the morning, we are expected to take an eco-bus from Darchen to Sarshung Valley.
• Then we will meet yaks and porters at Sarshung village. The cost of hiring yaks, horses, and porters is not included in the package.
• After that, we can begin the trek, around 13 km, from Sarshung to Drirapuk Monastery along the Lachu Valley and river. You can enjoy both the west and north faces of Mount Kailash today.
• Finally, we will visit Drirapuk Monastery.

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Day 09

Trek over Dromala Pass to Dzutripuk

• Today, we will trek over Dromala Pass (5,630 m), the highest pass of the Kora.
• On the way, you can have a rest in a teahouse.
• Along the route, you can see local Tibetans prostrating on the Kora path and the beautiful Kadoe Lake while walking downhill. We may also visit Zutulpuk Monastery.

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Day 10

Complete the Kora and Return to Darchen

• On the third day of the Kora, you will trek 7 km to Zongto, where you can take a bus to Darchen.
• Along the Kora, you can see piles of Mani stones.
• We will end the trek around noon and rest at the lodging place.

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Day 11

Drive from Darchen to Saga

• Drive from Darchen to Saga via Lake Manasarovar.

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Day 12

Saga to Gyirong Valley

• Having been to the highest peak in the world, we will take you to the lowest-altitude place in western Tibet - Gyirong Valley. High snow mountains at an altitude of 2,800 meters surround dense forests, crisscrossed canyons, and abundant oxygen.
• Here, you can have a good rest, hike in the countryside surrounded by forests, and breathe in the fresh oxygen of the forest to relieve the fatigue of the journey.
• If there are tourists in the tour group heading to the Nepalese border, you can also go with them to visit the border between China and Nepal and take photos in front of China's majestic National Gate.

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Day 13

Gyirong to Tingri with Himalayan Views

• If you are traveling to Kathmandu after visiting Mt. Kailash, you can depart this morning. Otherwise, you can rest at the hotel.
• After ample rest, you will head back to Tingri. Along the way, you can enjoy the stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range.
• Arrive in Tingri in the afternoon and check in to your hotel. Stay overnight in Tingri.

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Day 14

Return from Tingri to Lhasa

• Today, you will return to Lhasa. Driving along the Yarlung Tsangpo River, you can frame the breathtaking landscapes in your memory.

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Day 15

Departure from Lhasa

• Today is free for you until you are escorted to the airport or railway station for departure, and the guide will help you get on board.